US8393916B2 - Card-edge connector and card-edge connector assembly having heat-radiating structures - Google Patents

Abstract

A card-edge connector includes an insulative housing and a number of conductive contacts. The insulative housing defines a mating direction along a front-to-back direction and opposite front face and rear face. The insulative housing includes a pair of lengthwise walls, a central slot recessed from the front face along the front-to-back direction and at least one heat-radiating slot recessed from the front face along the front-to-back direction, and a number of contact-receiving passages in the lengthwise walls and communicating with the central slot. The heat-radiating slot is recessed from at least one of the pair of lengthwise walls and communicates with the contact-receiving passages along the mating direction. The conductive contacts are received in the contact-receiving passages.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a card-edge connector and a card-edge connector assembly, more particularly to a card-edge connector and a card-edge connector assembly for signal transmission.

2. Description of Related Art

Card-edge connectors are widely used today. In general, card-edge connectors can be classified into personal use and industrial use. When in personal use, card-edge connectors can be classified as desktop connectors, laptop connectors, mobile phone connectors, consuming connectors, and other types. Please refer toFIGS. 1-2, a card-edge connector100′ is usually mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB, not shown) and defines an interface for receiving anelectrical card200′ to transmit signal and power. The card-edge connector comprises aninsulative housing1′ and a plurality ofcontacts3′ contained in theinsulative housing1′. Theinsulative housing1′ defines acentral slot10′ and two rows of contact-receivingpassages11′ recessed in opposite lengthwise walls of thecentral slot10′. Thecontacts3′ are respectively received in the contact-receivingpassages11′ and partially exposed into thecentral slot10′ to form electrical connection withgolden fingers201′ of theelectrical card200′.

When theelectrical card200′ mates with thecontacts3′, heat is generated because of impedance of conductors, that is contacts. If the heat cannot be radiated out of theinsulative housing1′ of the card-edge connector100′ in time, the heat accumulated in theinsulative housing1′ may cause different problems. For example, contacting portions of the contacts may produce carbon, melt, and excessive deformation etc. The insulative housing also may produce deformation, melt etc. Such phenomenon all can produce influence to reliability of signal or power transmission and use life of the card-edge connector.

Hence, it is disable to design a card-edge connector to address problems mentioned above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a card-edge connector with improved heat-radiating structures to be more reliable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a card-edge connector assembly with improved heat-radiating structures to be more reliable.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a card-edge connector for electrically connecting with an electrical card comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive contacts. The insulative housing defines a mating direction along a front-to-back direction and opposite front face and rear face. The insulative housing comprises a pair of lengthwise walls, a central slot recessed from the front face along the front-to-back direction and a heat-radiating slot recessed from the front face along the front-to-back direction, and a plurality of contact-receiving passages in the lengthwise walls and communicating with the central slot. The heat-radiating slot is recessed from at least one of the pair of lengthwise walls and communicates with the contact-receiving passages along the mating direction. The conductive contacts are received in said contact-receiving passages. Each conductive contact comprises a retaining portion retained in the insulative housing, a contacting portion extending from the retaining portion and extending into the central slot, and a connecting portion extending from the retaining portion beyond the insulative housing.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a card-edge connector assembly comprises a card-edge connector and an electrical card. The card-edge connector comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive contacts. The insulative housing defines a mating direction and opposite front face and rear face. The insulative housing comprises a pair of lengthwise walls, a central slot recessed from said front face along the mating direction and a plurality of contact-receiving passages in the lengthwise walls to communicate with the central slot. The conductive contacts are received in the contact-receiving passages and each conductive contact comprises a retaining portion retained in the insulative housing, a contacting portion extending from the retaining portion and partially into the central slot, and a connecting portion extending from the retaining portion and beyond the insulative housing. The electrical card comprises a main body and a plurality of golden fingers electrically connecting with the conductive contacts as the electrical card inserted into said central slot along the mating direction. At least one heat-radiating slot is formed between the main body of the electrical card and the opposite lengthwise walls and communicates with outside for radiating heat generated between the golden fingers and the conductive contacts.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter, which form the subject of the claims of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an assembled, perspective view of a conventional card-edge connector assembly;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a card-edge connector assembly and an electrical card in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled, perspective view ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 a view similar toFIG. 4, but viewed from a different angle;

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the card-edge connector in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar toFIG. 6, but viewed from a different angle;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view taken along line8-8 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view taken along line9-9 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a cross-section view taken along line10-10 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an insulative housing of a card-edge connector in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-section view taken along line12-12 ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an insulative housing of a card-edge connector in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-section view taken along line14-14 ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an insulative housing of a card-edge connector in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a cross-section view taken along line16-16 ofFIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by same or similar reference numeral through the several views and same or similar terminology.

Referring toFIGS. 3-7, a card-edge connector100 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention comprises aninsulative housing1 and two rows ofconductive contacts3 received in theinsulative housing1. Anelectrical card200 mates with the card-edge connector100 to form a card-edge connector assembly and comprises amain body201 and a plurality ofgolden fingers203 arranged on opposite sides of themain body201. Thegolden fingers203 and theconductive contacts3 form electrical connection therebetween when the card-edge connector100 mates with theelectrical card200 for signal transmission.

Please refer toFIGS. 4-11, theinsulative housing1 is elongated and defines a mating direction extending along front-to-back direction andopposite front face12 andrear face16. Theinsulative housing1 comprises oppositelengthwise walls103, acentral slot10 recessed inwardly from thefront face12 along the mating direction, a plurality of contact-receivingpassages11 recessed in the opposite lengthwisewalls103, and a plurality of first heat-radiatingslots101 recessed inwardly from thefront face12 along the mating direction. Each first heat-radiatingslot101 can be square shape or arc shape. The contact-receivingpassage11 comprises afront section110 for receiving a contactingportion31 of theconductive contact3 and arear section112 for receiving a retainingportion32 of theconductive contact3. Thefront section110 of the contact-receivingpassage11 communicates with thecentral slot10 and thefront face12. Therear section112 of the contact-receivingpassage11 communicates with therear face16. Thus, thefront section110, therear section112 and thecentral slot10 communicate with one another. The first heat-radiatingslot101 communicates with respectivefront section110 along the mating direction.

Theinsulative housing1 defines a plurality ofopenings1101 recessed inwardly from thefront face12 and eachopening1101 is located above or below corresponding contact-receivingpassage11 and communicates with the contact-receivingpassage11. A plurality of second heat-radiatingslots1121,1122 recessed forwardly from therear face16 and respectively located above and below thesecond section112 of the contact-receivingpassage11 to communicate with thefirst section110. The second heat-radiating slot1122 also communicates with thecentral slot10. Also theinsulative housing1 forms a supportingrib105 between theopening1101 and the first heat-radiatingslot101 for supporting afree end312 of thecontact3.

An additional heat-radiatingslot14 is defined in eachend section17 of theinsulative housing1 and communicates with thecentral slot10. As shown inFIGS. 6-7, the additional heat-radiatingslot14 penetrates through thefront face12 and therear face16. The additional heat-radiatingslot14 communicates with thefront face12 via arecess140.

Please refer toFIGS. 6-10, in the first embodiment of the present invention, theconductive contact3 comprises theflat retention portion32 extending along the mating direction, themating portion31 curved forwardly from theretention portion32 and a connectingportion33 extending flatly from theretention portion32. A plurality ofbarbs320 is formed at opposite sides of theretention portion32. Themating portion31 is curved downwardly firstly from theretention portion32 and then upwardly to form anelastic spring arm310 with thefree end312.

When assembling thecontacts3 into theinsulative housing1, themating portions31 are received in thefirst sections110 of the contact-receivingpassages11, theretention portions32 are received in thesecond sections112 of the contact-receivingpassages11 with thebarbs320 interferentially engaged with inner walls of thesecond sections112, and the connectingportions33 extend beyond therear face16 for electrically connecting with a PCB (not shown). Theelastic spring arms310 extend beyond thefirst sections110 to be exposed in thecentral slot10 while the free ends312 enters in theopenings1101 and is supported by the supportingrib105.

When theelectrical card200 is inserted into thecentral slot10, the end with thegolden fingers203 is received in thecentral slot10 with thegolden fingers203 contact theelastic spring arms310 to form electrical connection. Heat is also generated between thegolden fingers203 and theelastic spring arms310.FIGS. 8-10 illustrate how the heat is radiated out from theinsulative housing1 with the arrows. The heat generated before the contacting area between thegolden fingers203 and theconductive contacts3 is radiated out via the first heat-radiatingslot101, the additional heat-radiatingslot14, therecesses140, and theopenings1101. The heat generated behind the contacting area between thegolden fingers203 and theconductive contacts3 is radiated out via the additional heat-radiatingslots14, and the second heat-radiatingslots1121,1122.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the additional heat-radiatingslots14 penetrate through both thefront face12 and therear face16. However, in an alternative embodiment, the additional heat-radiatingslots14 can only penetrate through one of thefront face12 and therear face16.

Please refer toFIGS. 11 and 12, a card-edge connector300 in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. Compared with theinsulative housing1 of the first embodiment, theinsulative housing1 of the card-edge connector300 enlarges thecentral slot10 upwardly and downwardly except thecentral slot10 in theend sections17 to form a pair of first heat-radiatingslots101′ communicating with thecentral slot10. Please refer toFIG. 12, a pair of blockingsections170 is formed at rear section of theend sections17 for blocking theelectrical card200 from inserting into theinsulative housing1 too deeply. Hence, when theelectrical card200 mates with the card-edge connector300, theelectrical card200 is guided by thecentral slot10 at the twoopposite end sections17 until blocked by the blockingsections170. Thus, space is formed between thelengthwise walls103 and opposite upper and lower surfaces of theelectrical card200. The heat generated between theelectrical card200 and the card-edge connector300 is radiated out through thefirst radiating slots101′.

Please refer toFIGS. 13 and 14, a card-edge connector400 in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention is shown. Compared with theinsulative housing1 of the card-edge connector300 of the second embodiment, a pair of protrudingribs107 protrudes upwardly and downwardly from thelengthwise walls103 toward the first heat-radiatingslots101′. The height between the pair of protrudingribs107 is same as that of thecentral slot10, thus, theelectrical card200 can be guided and supported by the pair of protrudingribs107. Ablocking section170 is also formed behind each protrudingrib107 to restrict the insertion depth of theelectrical card200 together with the other blockingsections170.

Please refer toFIGS. 15 and 16, a card-edge connector500 in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. Compared with theinsulative housing1 of the card-edge connector300 of the second embodiment, the wholelengthwise walls103 are cutoff to form the pair offirst radiating slots101′ communicating with thecentral slot10. Two pairs of protrudingribs107 respectively protrude from the oppositelengthwise walls103. The height between each pair of protrudingribs107 is also equal to that of thecentral slot10. Hence, when theelectrical card200 is inserted into the card-edge connector500, theelectrical card200 is guided and supported by the two pairs of protrudingribs107 and blocked by therear blocking sections170. Via the space formed between the first heat-radiatingslots101′ and theelectrical card200, the heat generated is radiated out.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the tongue portion is extended in its length or is arranged on a reverse side thereof opposite to the supporting side with other contacts but still holding the contacts with an arrangement indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (20)

1. A card-edge connector, adapted for electrically connecting with an electrical card, comprising:

an insulative housing defining a mating direction along a front-to-back direction and opposite front face and rear face, the insulative housing comprising a pair of lengthwise walls, a central slot recessed from the front face along said front-to-back direction and a heat-radiating slot recessed from the front face along said front-to-back direction, and a plurality of contact-receiving passages in the lengthwise walls and communicating with the central slot, said heat-radiating slot recessed from at least one of the pair of lengthwise walls and communicating with the contact-receiving passages along said mating direction; and

a plurality of conductive contacts received in said contact-receiving passages, each conductive contact comprising a retaining portion retained in the insulative housing, a contacting portion extending from the retaining portion and extending into the central slot, and a connecting portion extending from the retaining portion beyond the insulative housing.

2. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the heat-radiating slot is a plurality of heat-radiating slots recessed upwardly and downwardly from both the lengthwise walls.

3. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 2, wherein each heat-radiating slot aligns with corresponding contact-receiving passage along said mating direction.

4. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the insulative housing comprises a pair of end sections at opposite ends of the lengthwise walls, and wherein said heat-radiating slot communicates with the central slot and extends along the extending direction of the lengthwise wall between the pair of end sections.

5. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the insulative housing forms a pair of blocking sections protruding into the central slot at rear section of the end sections for blocking the insertion depth of the electrical card.

6. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the pair of lengthwise walls form a pair of protruding ribs protruding into the heat-radiating slot, and wherein the height between the pair of protruding ribs is equal to that of the central slot.

7. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the insulative housing defines an additional heat-radiating slot in each end section, and wherein the additional heat-radiating slot penetrates through at least one of the front face and the rear face and communicates with the central slot.

8. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the contact-receiving passage comprises a front section receiving the contacting portion of the conductive contact, and a rear section receiving the retaining portion of the conductive contact, and wherein insulative housing defines a plurality of openings recessed from the front face along said mating direction and respectively communicating with the first sections of the contact-receiving passages.

9. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the contacting portion of each conductive contact forms a free end protruding into the opening.

10. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the insulative housing defines a plurality of second heat-radiating slots in pairs, and wherein each pair of heat-radiating slots locates above and below corresponding second section of the contact-receiving passage and communicates with the second section and the central slot.

11. A card-edge connector assembly comprising:

a card-edge connector comprising:

an insulative housing defining a mating direction and opposite front face and rear face, the insulative housing comprising a pair of lengthwise walls, a central slot recessed from said front face along the mating direction and a plurality of contact-receiving passages in the lengthwise walls to communicate with the central slot;

a plurality of conductive contacts received in the contact-receiving passages and each conductive contact comprising a retaining portion retained in the insulative housing, a contacting portion extending from the retaining portion and partially into the central slot, and a connecting portion extending from the retaining portion and beyond the insulative housing; and

an electrical card comprising a main body and a plurality of golden fingers electrically connecting with the conductive contacts as the electrical card inserted into said central slot along said mating direction; and wherein

at least one heat-radiating slot is formed between the main body of the electrical card and the opposite lengthwise walls and communicates with outside for radiating heat generated between the golden fingers and the conductive contacts.

12. The card-edge connector assembly as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the heat-radiating slot is recessed from at least one of the lengthwise wall and communicates with the central slot.

13. The card-edge connector assembly as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the heat-radiating slot is a plurality of heat-radiating slots recessed upwardly and downwardly from the pair of lengthwise walls respectively, and wherein each heat-radiating slot aligns with the contact-receiving passage along said mating direction.

14. The card-edge connector assembly as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the insulative housing comprises a pair of end sections at opposite ends of the lengthwise walls, and wherein said heat-radiating slot communicates with the central slot and the heat-radiating slot extends along the extending direction of the lengthwise wall between the pair of end sections.

15. The card-edge connector assembly as claimed inclaim 14, wherein the insulative housing forms a pair of blocking sections protruding into the central slot at rear part of the end sections for blocking the insertion depth of the electrical card.

16. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 14, wherein the pair of lengthwise walls form a pair of protruding ribs protruding into the heat-radiating slot, and wherein the height between the pair of protruding ribs is equal to that of the central slot.

17. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 14, wherein the insulative housing defines an additional heat-radiating slot in each end section, and wherein the additional heat-radiating slot penetrates through at least one of the front face and the rear face and communicates with the central slot.

18. The card-edge connector as claimed inclaim 17, wherein the contact-receiving passage comprises a front section receiving the contacting portion of the conductive contact, and a rear section receiving the retaining portion of the conductive contact, and wherein insulative housing defines a plurality of openings recessed from the front face along said mating direction and respectively communicating with the first sections of the contact-receiving passages.

19. The card-edge connector assembly as claimed inclaim 18, wherein the heat generated between the golden fingers of the electrical card and the conductive contacts is radiated out from the front face via the additional heat-radiating slots, the first sections of the contact-receiving passages and the openings communicating with the first sections, and the heat-radiating slot between the electrical card and the lengthwise walls.

20. The card-edge connector assembly as claimed inclaim 17, wherein the heat generated between the golden fingers of the electrical card and the conductive contacts is radiated out from the rear face via the second sections of the contact-receiving passages and the additional heat-radiating slots.

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